Contaminant Transport and Transformation in the Subsurface

Our focus is primarily on the transport and transformation of nitrate generated by agricultural land use.

 

The research comprises field stations, laboratory studies and mathematical modelling of processes from land surface through groundwater to receiving surface waters

 

List of Projects:

 

- Vadose zone nitrogen transformations (Taupo, Toenepi)
- Hillslope hydrology (Pukemanga)
- Denitrification experiments
- Te Pirita large lysimeter
- Mathematical models: urine patch processes; vadose zone transport

 

Publications:

 

Stenger, R., Barkle, G., Wall, A., and Clague, J.  (2007) Low groundwater N contamination in spite of high land use intensity – the Toenepi dairying catchment experience.  In Designing sustainable farm: Critical aspects of soil and water management (Eds L.D. Curry and L.J. Yates). Occasional Report No.20.  Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. pp 86-94.


Bidwell, V.J. (2005) Groundwater recharge interface and nitrate discharge: Central Canterbury, New Zealand.  In Acworth, RI; Macky, G and NP Merrick (eds.) Proceedings of the NZHS-IAH-NZSSS 2005 Conference “Where Waters Meet”, Auckland, 28 November - 2 December 2005, Paper I17.  ISBN 0-473-10627-2.


Bidwell, V.J., Lilburne., and Good, J.M. (2005) Strategy for developing GIS-based tools for management of the effects on groundwater of nitrate leaching from agricultural land use.  In Zerger, A. and Argent, R.M. (eds) MODSIM 2005 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, December 2005.  pp.1354‑1360.  ISBN 0-9758400-2-9.


Stenger, R., Barkle, G., Bidwell, V., Burgess, C., Wall, A., Haas, M. and Mertens, J. (2005) From the Paddock to the Stream – Unravelling the Nitrogen Flowpaths in a New Zealand Dairying Catchment. Proceedings of the 2005 Watershed Management Conference ‘Managing Watersheds for Human and Natural Impacts: Engineering, Ecological, and Economic Challenges’ (19-22 July 2005), Williamsburg, Virginia. 10pp. (Editor Glenn E. Moglen), Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers.


Wang, F., and Bright, J. (2004) Scale effect and calibration of contaminant transport models, Ground Water 42(5): 760-766.


Wang, F., Bright, J., and Hadfield, J. (2003) Simulating nitrate transport in an alluvial aquifer: a three-dimensional N-dynamics model, Journal of Hydrology (New Zealand) 42(2): 145-162.